Air-gun.



Patented Mar. ll, i902.-

ation/w15 {ja/muvo W. Vf1. BENJAMIN.

AIR GUN.

(Application filed Sept. 11, IQQO.)

wief@ UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WALTER R. BENJAMIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Aia-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,02 5, dated March 1 1, 1902. Application filed September 11, 1900. Serial No, 29,674x (No model.)Y

To all whom, it :fn/Cty concern Be it known that I, WALTER R.1BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sr. Louis, in the State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Pneumatic Rifle, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to pneumatic riiies, and has special reference to the type of firearms commonly known as airrifles or airguns, and particularly to that class which load at the muzzle and employ shot as projectiles.

The object of the invention is to provide an improvedrifle of this character embodyinga minimum number of parts,besides such a compact and effective arrangement thereof as to permit of the convenient and rapid charging Y of the air-reservoir as Well as of a quick and effective discharge of the compressed air against the projectile orrmissile.

To this end the invention contemplates a construction of air-rifle embodying as a part thereof a complete air-pum p without detracting in any Way from the general appearance of the ordinary rifle. In the accomplishment of this object the invention dispenses with the employment of a separate air-puinp,which is adapted to be detached when the air-reservoir is charged, and. also dispenses with the use of an air-pump as an auxiliary attachment, such as shown, for instance, in my former patent, No. 627,320. In carrying out i this feature of the invention the pump-cylinder has the appearance of being the main barrel of the riiie and being in position and shape like the ordinary barrel ofair and similar rifles. Also the said pump-cylinder is utilized to provide at the breech end thereof the air-reservcir,thus permitting of providing the rie with a comparatively large air-pum p and air-reservoir Without the addition of extra parts thereto. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for dividing or separating the interior of the pump-barrel into a pumpcylinder and an air-reservoir, respectively; and the invention also has in View a novel arrangement of projectile-barrel in connection With compress'ed-air-couveying means associated with said barrel to provide for securing'a most elective discharge of compressed air against the projectile.

Another object ,is to provide novel means for holdingl different sizes of projectiles-in the `same position with reference to the projectilebarrel and the-conveyerfor transferring compressed air from the air reservoir to such barrel.

Vith these and many other objects in view v, which will more readily appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood,the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter..

more fully described,illustrated, and claimed.

While the essential features of the invention as already pointed out are necessarily susceptible to some modiication without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, still the preferred embodiment of the improvements is shown in the accompanying drawings, in Whichr y Figure l is a side elevation of a pneumatic or air rifle constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig.'2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, showing the chargingplunger of the pump housed Within the pump barrel or cylinder. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the breech portion of the gun. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the charging-plunger.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several gures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the usual stock l is employed; but in ccntradistinction to other types of air-rifles, and particularly asran improvement upon the construction of rifle disclosed in my aforesaid former patent, there is directly associated with the stock l in the present invention a pump-barrel 2, which While occupying a position and having the shape and size of ordinary forms of barrels at the saine time constitutes the cylinder of the charging-pump for the rifle. The said pump barrel or cylinder 2 is preferably constructedV of a single piece of tubing, Which is of a length equaling the full length of ordinary sizes of rifle-barrels, but which is designed to be made of sufficient diameter or bore to provide a pum p-cylinder of maximum size in order that a considerable quantity of air may be readily and quickly stored in the air-reservoir of the pump.' The said onepiece pump barrel or cylinder 2 is preferably ffl straight throughout the portion which constitutes the pump-cylinder proper; but the rear port-ion of said barrel 2 is inclined, as at 3, to constitute the grip portion of the rifle, and this grip portion 3 is fastened directly to one end of the stock 1 by means of screws or equivalent fasteners 4. The said grip portion 3 of the rifle is, as already stated, an integral continuation of the one-piece tubing constituting the pump barrel or cylinder 2, and in addition to constituting the grip of the rifie the said rear inclined portion 3 of the barrel forms within the chamber thereof the airreservoir 5 for the ride. This air-reservoir 5 extends throughout the entire grip portion of the rifie or gun, and is consequently of a sufficient size to hold a considerable quantity of air under compression, and by reason of forming a direct continuation of the barrel or cylinder 2 air may be readily charged therein.

In order to provide a separation or division between the pump-cylinder portion of the barrel 2 and the reservoir 5, there is inserted or interposed within the pump-barrel, between these separate parts thereof, a plug 6, which constitutes the bottom or foot valve of the pump-cylinder. The said plug 6 may consist of a cork disk or any other suitable stopper provided therein with an air-port 7, adapted to be covered and uncovered by a check-valve 8, which may be of any approved form, but which for illustrative purposes is shown in the drawings as consisting of an ordinary inwardly-opening check-valve, which opens toward the reservoir 5 to admit air therein and closing over the port 7 under the pressure of the air within said reservoir 5, thereby preventing the escape thereof back through the' barrel. In order. to insure the firm retention of the plug or foot valve 6 in position within the pump-barrel, the rear sight 9 for the rifie is preferably provided with an inner retaining-stem 10, extending transversely across the pump-barrel in front of the plug 6, thus effectually preventing the same from blowing outward.

The end of the air-rifle opposite the plug 6 is preferably sealed by a suitable stopper 11, and in order to complete the construction of pump for charging the said reservoir there is associated with the pump barrel or cylinder a charging-plunger 12. This chargingplunger preferably consists of a straight cylindrical staff loosely registering within the pump-cylinder and substantially filling the same, so that when the plunger is moved entirely within the pump-cylinder the same is completely housed therein, besides forming a filler or guard for the pump-cylinder to prevent projectiles or foreign matter being accidentally placed therein, which might be the case if the plunger were removed therefrom. It will therefore be understood that when the pump is inactive the charging-plunger is housed entirely within the cylinder portion of the pump-barrel 2, as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The staff of the charging-plunger is provided at its outer end with a finger-grip or knob 13, which is the only part of the plunger exposed when the same is housed within the pump-cylinder, and at its inner end the staff of the plunger has fitted thereto a flexible piston-valve 15 of the type commonly used in connection with air -pump plungers and which on the outward movement of the plunger permits air to pass into the cylinder and on the inward movement of the plunger expands out against the walls of the cylinder and forcibly directs the air through the valved port 7 into the reservoir 5.

Inasmuch as thelargepi'1mp-barrel2 forms a rigid framing for the rifle, a-minimum size of projectile-barrel 16 may be employed,and in the present invention this smaller projectile-barrel is arranged underneath and longitudinally of the pump-barrel 2 and yis rigidly uni'ted thereto by solder or other suitable fastening means. The said smaller projectile-barrel 16 extends the full length of the pump-cylinder portion of the main barrel 2, so as to give the appearance of an ordinary magazine-rifle, and said barrel is of the saine bore or diameter throughout. The rear end ot' the barrel 16 has fitted thereto one end of the flexible air-conveyer tube 17, the other end of which tube has a coupling connection,

1S with the air-reservoir 5. The rear end of the barrel is fiared, so that when the projectile (usually shot) is inserted at the muzzle end of the barrel it rolls 'back into the flexible air-tube. By this arrangement I have overcome the greatest object-ion to guns of this type, which objection was that the shot would often lodge so tight that it could not be discharged. It will be observed that by reason ofthe fact that the breech end of the projectile-barrel-is not contracted to hold the shot the full volume of air can enter the projectile-barrel and the gun shoots with greater power. Instead of contracting the projectilebarrel I flare or enlarge its inner end and depend for the holding of the shot on the contraction of the flexible tube due to the mechanism to be presently described. The said fiexible air-conveyer tube 17 is arranged at one side of a seat-plate 19, rigidly fitted to the under side of the main barrel, at the grip end thereof, and provided with supporting-ears 20, between which is pivotally hung a releasing-trigger 21,`one end of which trigger is adapted to work against a swinging bearing-plate 22, loosely hung at one end, as at 23, in the supporting-ear 24, pendent from one end of the seat-plate 19, and also receiving therethrough the inner end of the projectile-barrel 16. The said flexible conveyer and the parts directly associated therewith, as described, are located inside of the plane of a semicircular or arcuate trigger-guard 25, secured'at its ends respectively to the projectile-barrel16 and the under side of the grip portion 3 of the main barrel 2. The said flexi- IOO IIO

ble conveyer-tnbe 17 and the trigger device associated therewith are of substantially thetrigger mechanism permits of the novel and eftectivedisposition of parts herein pointed In ,using the rifle the releasing-trigger21is iirst set With one end bearing against the plate22, so as to bind the latteragainst the intermediate portion of the tube 17, andthereby close the passage-way therethrough, after which the air-reservoir may be charged with air through the medium ot' 'the pump described. The projectile to jbe used isfintroduced into the muzzle end of the projectilebarrell 16 and passeslinto the conveyerltube 17, Where it is frictionallyheld by the dexible Walls ofsaid tube. Projec'tiles of different sizes will be held in the same manner, and

when the gun is to be discharged thetrigger4 21 is pulled upon, which causes the release of thebearing-plate 22 and a 'conseqnent'opening up of the passage-Way throughthe tube 17, so that the air will forcibly discharge againstthe projectile or missile and expel the same with force through the projectile-bar- 'rel 16.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation,' and many advantages of the herein-described pneumatic or air Arifle Will be readily .apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor detailsof construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages'of this invention. l

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and'desired to be secured by Letters Paten t, is- A 1. In an air-ride of the muzzle-loadin g type, the combination withthe projectile-barrel, of

a pump-barrel having its rear portion extended beyond therear end ofthe projectilebarrel and forming an air-reservoir, a valve at an .intermediate point of the length of the pump-barrel,v and eXteriorly-arranged air-release mechanism connecting the air-reservoir with the projectile-barrel.

2. In an air-ride of the muzzle-loading type,

the combination with the projectile-barrehjof a pump-barrel having its rear portionextended beyond the rear en d of the projectile-barrel and bent to form an inclined air-reservoir,

a valve at an` intermediate point of the barrel, a charging-plunger contained Within the barrel in advance of the valve, and exteriorlyarranged air-release. mechanism connecting projectilefbarrel, of an air-pump barrel, the' rear end of which is extended beyond the rear end of the projectile-barrelv to form an airreservoir and also a hand-grip which is joined v to the stock, a valve atan intermediate point of the barrel, a' charging-plunger contained Within the' pump-barrel in advance of the valve, and air-'release mechanism for admit- 'tingair from the air-reservoir tothe projectile-barrel, saidmechanism being arranged exteriorly of the Abarrels and stock.

, 4f.V In al pneumatic rifle of the muzzle-loading type, the'combinati'on with the projectilebarrel, ot'a separate air-pump consistingof a single continuons pieceof tubing extending beyond the rear end of the projectile-barrel and having a vaived diaphragm intermediate Aof its vends separating the interior thereof into a pump-cylinderiand an air-reservoir, respectively, a charging-plunger contained within thepump-barrel in advance of the'valved diaphragm, and exteriorly-arranged'air-release mechanism connecting the airreseryoir 'with the rear end of the projectile-barrel.

5. "In a pneumatic'ritle of the muzzle-loading type,`the main barrel forming both a pump- `cylinder and anairres`ervoir,`and consisting of a single continuous piece of tubing having an integralgrip 'continuationconstituting an" air-reservoir, 'a valveddiaphragm at an intermediate point of the barrel, a charging-plunger contained Withinv the pump in advance of the valved diaphragm, a separate 'projectilebarrel, a flexible tube connect-ing the inner .end'of the projectile-barrel tothe air-reservoir and arranged exteriorly thereoand-a releasing-trigger for the. tube.

6. In a pneumatic ride, a pump-barrel provided with a rear breech extension adjoining the stock and constituting an air-reservoir,Y a' valve-plug interposed Ybetween the air-reservoir and the pump-cylinder, a rearsight fitted to the main barrel and Ahaving an inner 'retainingistem' lying in front of the valveplng, and a separate p'rojectilebarrel having an operative connection Withthe air-reser- Voir.

y7. YIn apneu matic riie,the'combination With Vthe projectile-barrel, ofthe pump-cylinder barrel having an airfreservoir extension, a valve-'plug interposed between the pump-cylinder and-the air-reservoir,' and a rear sight having an inner retaininglstem extending transversely across the pump-cylinder barrel `and lying in frontof said valve-plug.

8. In a pneumatic rifle, a ypump-barrel havair-reservoir and provided with a valve, a separate proj ectile-barrel adjoining the main bar'- lrel and having its'bore'fla'red at the rearend,y

a trigger-guard connecting the two barrels,

`holder for the projectile Aor missile.

9." In a pneumatic rie,the combination with the projectile-barrel, of a pump-barrelextend- IOO IIO

ing an integral grip extension constitutingan and exteriorly-arranged trigger-actuated 're' 'with 'the air-reservoir, and also forming' a" ed beyond the rear end of the projectile-barrel to form an air-reservoir and consisting of a single continuous piece 0E tubing having an integral grip continuation constituting an air-reservoir, a valve at an intermediate point of the pump-barrel, a charging-plunger received Within the pump-barrel in advance of the valve, a stock closing the rear end of the tube which forms the pump-barrel and reservoir, and an eXteriorly-arranged valved air connection between the projectile-barrel and the air-reservoirl0. In a pneumatic rifle, a pump-barrel, a separate projectile-barrel adjoining the pu mpbarrel and having its rear end flared or enlarged, and trigger-actuated air-release mechanism including a flexible conveyer connecting the rear end of the projectile-barrel With the pump-barrel and also forming a holder for the projectile.

my own I have hereto affixed my signature in l the presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER R. BENJAMiN.

Vitnesses:

LOUIS T. VITT, W. WOLTERING. 

